第 42 节
作者:指点迷津      更新:2021-02-19 00:27      字数:9320
  when first she gave him the drugs to charm the oxen; and next; to cure one
  ill by  another;  as in our sinning   we do   often;  she fled   from  her  haughty
  sire's heavy wrath。       But Jason; as I hear; is bound to her by mighty oaths
  that he will make her his wedded wife within his halls。                  Wherefore; my
  friend; make not; of thy will; Aeson's son to be forsworn; nor let the father;
  if thou canst help; work with angry heart some intolerable mischief on his
  child。    For fathers are all too jealous against their children; what wrong
  did Nycteus devise against Antiope; fair of face!               What woes did Danae
  endure on the wide sea through her sire's mad rage!                 Of late; and not far
  away; Echetus in wanton cruelty thrust spikes of bronze in his daughter's
  eyes; and by a grievous fate is she wasting away; grinding grains of bronze
  in a dungeon's gloom。〃
  (ll。 1096…1097)       Thus she spake; beseeching; and by his wife's words
  his heart was softened; and thus he spake:
  (ll。 1098…1109)       〃Arete; with arms I could drive forth the Colchians;
  showing   grace   to   the   heroes   for the   maiden's sake。      But   I   fear to   set   at
  nought the righteous judgment of Zeus。              Nor is it well to take no thought
  of Aeetes; as thou sayest: for none is more lordly than Aeetes。                And; if he
  willed; he might bring war upon Hellas; though he dwell afar。                  Wherefore
  it is right for me to deliver the judgement that in all men's eyes shall be
  best; and I will not hide it from thee。           If she be yet a maid I decree that
  they carry her back to her father; but if she shares a husband's bed; I will
  not separate her from her lord; nor; if she bear a child beneath her breast;
  will I give it up to an enemy。〃
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  (ll。   1110…1120)      Thus   he   spake;   and   at   once   sleep   laid   him   to   rest。
  And she stored up in her heart the word of wisdom; and straightway rose
  from   her   couch   and   went   through   the   palace;   and   her   handmaids   came
  hasting      together;    eagerly     tending     their    mistress。      But     quietly     she
  summoned her herald and addressed him; in her prudence urging Aeson's
  son to wed the maiden; and not to implore Alcinous; for he himself; she
  said; will decree to the Colchians that if she is still a maid he will deliver
  her up to be borne to her father's house; but that if she shares a husband's
  bed he will not sever her from wedded love。
  (ll。   1121…1127)      Thus   she   spake;   and   quickly   from   the   hall   his   feet
  bore him; that he might declare to Jason the fair…omened speech of Arete
  and     the  counsel     of   godfearing      Alcinous。      And     he   found     the  heroes
  watching in full armour in the haven of Hyllus; near the city; and out he
  spake the whole message; and each hero's heart rejoiced; for the word that
  he spake was welcome。
  (ll。 1128…1169)        And straightway they mingled a bowl to the blessed
  ones;  as   is   right;   and   reverently  led   sheep   to   the   altar;   and   for   that   very
  night prepared for the maiden the bridal couch in the sacred cave; where
  once     dwelt     Macris;    the   daughter      of   Aristaeus;     lord   of   honey;    who
  discovered   the   works   of   bees   and   the   fatness   of   the   olive;   the   fruit   of
  labour。     She   it   was   that   first   received   in   her   bosom   the   Nysean   son   of
  Zeus   in   Abantian   Euboea;   and   with   honey   moistened   his   parched   lips
  when   Hermes   bore   him   out   of   the   flame。        And   Hera   beheld   it;   and   in
  wrath   drove   her   from   the   whole   island。       And   she   accordingly   came   to
  dwell far off; in the sacred cave of the Phaeacians; and granted boundless
  wealth   to   the   inhabitants。      There   at   that   time   did   they   spread   a   mighty
  couch;   and   thereon   they   laid   the   glittering   fleece   of   gold;   that   so     the
  marriage might be made honoured and the theme of song。                         And for them
  nymphs   gathered   flowers   of   varied   hue   and   bore   them   thither   in   their
  white bosoms; and a splendour as of flame played round them all; such a
  light gleamed from the golden tufts。              And in their eyes it kindled a sweet
  longing; yet for all her desire; awe withheld each one from laying her hand
  thereon。      Some were called daughters of the river Aegaeus; others dwelt
  round     the   crests   of   the   Meliteian     mount;     and   others    were    woodland
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  nymphs from the plains。            For Hera herself; the spouse of Zeus; had sent
  them to do honour to Jason。 That cave is to this day called the sacred cave
  of Medea; where they spread the fine and fragrant linen and brought these
  two together。       And the heroes in their hands wielded their spears for war;
  lest first a host of foes should burst upon them for battle unawares; and;
  their heads enwreathed with leafy sprays; all in harmony; while Orpheus'
  harp    rang    clear;  sang   the   marriage    song    at  the  entrance    to  the   bridal
  chamber。       Yet   not   in   the   house   of Alcinous   was   the   hero; Aeson's   son;
  minded   to   complete   his   marriage;   but   in   his   father's   hall   when   he   had
  returned   home   to   Ioleus;   and   such   was   the   mind   of   Medea   herself;   but
  necessity led them to wed at this time。             For never in truth do we tribes of
  woe…stricken mortals tread the path of delight with sure foot; but still some
  bitter affliction keeps pace with our joy。 Wherefore they too; though their
  souls     were   melted     with   sweet    love;   were    held   by   fear;  whether     the
  sentence of Alcinous would be fulfilled。
  (ll。 1170…1227)       Now dawn returning with her beams divine scattered
  the gloomy night through the sky; and the island beaches laughed out and
  the paths over the plains far off; drenched with dew; and there was a din in
  the   streets;   the   people   were   astir   throughout   the   city;   and   far   away   the
  Colchians were astir at the bounds of the isle of Macris。                And straightway
  to them went Alcinous; by reason of his covenant; to declare his purpose
  concerning the maiden; and in his hand he held a golden staff; his staff of
  justice;   whereby   the   people   had   righteous   judgments   meted   out   to   them
  throughout   the   city。      And   with   him   in   order   due   and   arrayed   in   their
  harness of war went marching; band by band; the chiefs of the Phaeacians。
  And from the towers came forth the women in crowds to gaze upon the
  heroes; and the country folk came to meet them when they heard the news;
  for Hera had sent forth a true report。            And one led the chosen ram of his
  flock; and another a heifer that had never toiled; and others set hard by jars
  of wine for mixing; and the smoke of sacrifice leapt up far away。                        And
  women bore fine linen; the fruit of much toil; as women will; and gifts of
  gold and varied ornaments as well; such as are brought to newly…wedded
  brides; and they marvelled when they saw the shapely forms and beauty of
  the   gallant   heroes;   and   among   them   the   son   of   Oeagrus;   oft   beating   the
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  ground with gleaming sandal; to the time of his loud…ringing lyre and song。
  And all the nymphs together; whenever he recalled the marriage; uplifted
  the lovely bridal…chant; and at times again they sang alone as they circled
  in the dance; Hera; in thy honour; for it was thou that didst put it into the
  heart of Arete to proclaim the wise word of Alcinous。                And as soon as he
  had uttered the decree of his righteous judgement; and the completion of
  the marriage had been proclaimed; he took care that thus it should abide
  fixed; and no deadly fear touched him nor Aeetes' grievous wrath; but he
  kept     his  judgement      fast   bound    by   unbroken      oaths。    So    when     the
  Colchians learnt that they were beseeching in vain and he bade them either
  observe   his   judgements   or   hold   their   ships   away   from   his   harbours   and
  land; then they began to dread the threats of their own king and besought
  Alcinous to receive them as comrades; and there in the island long time
  they     dwelt   with    the   Phaeacians;     until   in  the   course    of   years;